Already experiencing delays in getting an adjuster to visit your home?
​
Louisiana License# 896455
​
We are inspecting homes in the LaPlace and Houma areas and running into homeowners who have yet to see their insurance adjuster. And when they do end up coming out, you can be they will underestimate the damages.
​
As licensed Public Insurance Adjusters we can get the ball rolling with a detailed estimate. We work for you, not the insurance company.
1
What is a Public Insurance Adjuster?
A Public Insurance Adjuster is licensed and governed by your state as an insurance professional with the goal of indemnifying you when it comes to property loss/damage. Public Insurance Adjusters have a fiduciary responsibility to you, the insured to help return you to your financial position prior to your loss.
2
Why should I use a public insurance adjuster?
There are many cases where the insurance company acts unfairly to the policyholder. They may deny your claim, under-pay your claim, or delay it for a long period of time. Why? They are in business to make money so the longer they can hold on to the premiums you pay, the more money they make. A Public Insurance Adjuster can get involved in the claim at any point but it is most beneficial to involve him/her at the beginning.
​
Get up to 750% more on your claim with Smart Claims Public Adjusting.
Be prepared for insurance companies to act unfairly.
Get Protected
Smart Claims on Google
Louisiana: 504-544-9976
Speed is critical when a storm hits
Our process gets you to a claim that is paid out quicker post hurricane. As you may know, the insurance companies don't have the capacity to service every customer during a catastrophe. By hiring us, we stay on top of them to ensure you get treated fairly and you're not left months without a resolution.
Step 1 - We evaluate your loss via a property inspection and have you sign a letter-of-representation so that we may represent your claim to your insurance company.
Step 2 - We will devel0p an extensive report and analyze the language of your insurance policy so that we may effectively negotiate the terms and value of the claim.
Step 3 - Once we are satisfied with the settlement offer the insurance company will distribute payment.
DON'T LET YOUR INSURANCE DENY YOU BECAUSE OF "FLOOD" EXCLUSIONS.
Just as an example, water damage from a hurricane can easily be labeled as flood damage by your insurance company. Especially when it is in the best interest of the insurance company since most homeowners do not carry flood insurance.
Be aware! They will try to deny you based on flood and other exclusions. Do not get taken advantage of during this storm. Don't use the word "flood damage" when opening a claim.
​
Insurance companies do not always play fair when it comes to making you whole after a property loss has occurred.
​
Smart Claims makes sure that you are treated fairly.
BE AWWARE OF ROOFING AND RESTORATION CONTRACTORS
According to LA Dept of Insurance, contractors cannot:
-
Investigate, appraise, evaluate, give advice, advocate on behalf of or assist their customer in adjusting a claim.
-
Prepare the insurance claim for their customer. Negotiate the claim with the insurance company on their customer’s behalf.
-
Offer to review the insurance policy or advise their customer on the insurance policy’s coverage.
-
Advertise or provide written materials that they can negotiate or investigate a claim on their customer’s behalf. This includes advertising to be “claim specialists” or “claim analysts” or any other similar terms, or advertising or claiming that they can “deal with insurance companies” or in any way increase the claim settlement amount for the policyholder.
How to file a FEMA claim
1.) Damaged property must be in a federally declared disaster area
-
Find out if your property is in a declared area by going to FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/disasters
​
2.) File a claim with your insurance company as well
-
Failure to report property damage to your insurance company can affect your eligibility for federal assistance from FEMA.
-
FEMA does not cover insurance deductibles.
-
FEMA cannot help pay for anything that your insurance will cover.
​​
3.) Prepare necessary information for the application process
-
You will need:
-
Social Security Number
-
Address of property that was damaged
-
Current address (where you are living in the interim)
-
Current/working phone number
-
Property insurance information (carrier, policy number, etc.)
-
Total household income
-
Routing and account information for checking/savings account
-
Description of disaster-related damages and losses
-
​​
4.) Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply online or call 800.621.3362
-
Upon completion, you will be given a FEMA claim number, write this down or store it safely (in your phone) as it will make future interactions easier.
​​
5.) Check the status of your FEMA application
-
By using the same method you applied with – online or by phone - within 24 hours
-
FEMA will mail you a copy of your application along with a detailed guide that walks you through the assistance process.
-
If you have an e-mail account you can log onto DisasterAssistance.gov and click on “Check Your Status.”
​​
6.) A FEMA Inspector will contact you within 10-14 days
-
The inspector will to set up a time to visit your property and inspect the damage.
-
FEMA home inspections have no fee.
-
You must be physically present at the time of the inspection.
-
You must be able to provide the inspector proof of ownership and occupancy.
​​
7.) The FEMA inspector will then submit the report to FEMA
-
Reviews of inspections take about 10 days.
​​
8.) If you qualify, a check will be sent by mail, or the money will be transferred into your checking/savings account along with a letter explaining how you are to use the funds
-
FEMA funds are tax-free and do not have to be repaid.
-
Amount of assistance relies on how much damage your state has reported among other factors.
​
HOW MUCH WILL I GET FROM FEMA?
​
Although a federal aid program like FEMA can help disaster victims by providing as much as $33,000 per household, typical grants run a fraction of that amount, averaging $8,000 or less.
Insurance companies will try to underpay or deny your claims. Contact us to make sure that doesn't happen.
Begin your FEMA claim here
When catastrophes strike and the states Governor will request the U.S. President proclaim a Major Disaster Declaration which activates the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to begin distributing funds to those deemed eligible.
​
Here are 8 key steps to filing a claim: